A relieved Rafael Benitez hailed goal hero Steven Gerrard following Liverpool's 3-0 Champions League win over TNS - and then opened the door for Milan Baros to leave.

Benitez witnessed his European champions being made to fight every inch of the way to a 6-0 aggregate victory over brave TNS at Wrexham.

Only two late goals from substitute Gerrard, to add to his hat-trick from the first leg, finally broke the Welsh champions' hearts in this first qualifying round.

"We didn't use Gerrard until the end because he had been training hard during the day, but he can still come on and change the game when you use him in the last minutes," said Benitez.

"Five goals in two games is good for me. But I also want him to score more goals than last season, I want him to go forward with players around him like Alonso, Hamann or Sissoko to protect him and allow him to attack more.

"We always know Steve is really important to us. When the other team wasn't so strong at the end then Steve can come on and do the things he wants to do."

TNS boss Ken McKenna branded it "cruel for them to put Gerrard on when we were tired", but Benitez had words of praise for another battling display by the Welsh Premier League side.

He said: "They didn't surprise me. I have watched them a lot now and know they have a good manager.

"When you see a team playing with organisation in defence and being able to attack with width, and they also keep the ball, you know there is a good manager behind them."

Benitez, who expects to confirm Peter Crouch as his sixth signing of the summer today after the striker has completed his medical, now knows he has an array of options up front.

But that will open up the prospect of offers for some of his misfiring front men - particularity Baros.

Benitez said: "Milan is a good player, he was top scorer last season, but now we have more options and maybe some offers.

"At the moment we are working with all our strikers and at this moment Baros does have a future here.

"But we will not have space in the squad for any more strikers, we have a lot of them now. The most important thing for me is to have enough quality and to work hard.

"I am not preparing for anyone to go, I am working with my players, but if we receive any offers maybe some of them can go. It depends on the offers and it depends on the player also."

McKenna accepted that Liverpool were good value for their 6-0 aggregate win, and said: "We have only had patches in the games when we have done well, Liverpool are a miles better side.

"But we have to be proud of what we have achieved against that sort of quality. To put Gerrard on when we were tired was a little bit cruel, it wasn't fair really. He was superb again when he came on and we couldn't get near him.

"Our keeper Gerard Doherty was superb, he has learned from his mistakes earlier in his career and he has been comfortable and has had two fine games.

"He saved a penalty, had another fantastic game and has done himself proud. He is only young and has a lot of potential, it is whether anyone sees that and thinks they can improve him.

"I'd like to keep him, we have had him for a few years, but I fear we may not be able to hang onto him now."